Be prepared for a lot of follow up. Friends who are goign through it are fed up.

My husband had laser surgery for both eyes. He no longer wears glasses. He’s very happy with it. He chose an upgrade from the basic service. His doctor said he could have upgraded once more to a trifocal ( I think that’s what it is) lens but didn’t recommend it as it could cause a haloing effect around lights at night.

See what your doctor recommends.

I had both eyes done plus laser surgery. Wonderful results. No more contacts or glasses. I'd gladly do it all over again. No discomfort at all.

Gosh so much depends on your current vision needs and what your daily activities are.

My husband had it done in one eye. It's been a sh*tshow since then. He has an increased amount of floaters that obscure his vision enough that he can't see to drive at night, and he's not even 60 yet. He has severe haloing around lights. He also has intermittent dry eye issues.

He opted for the standard lens, and can see better up close now, but only without his glasses. He still needs glasses for regular day-to-day living and for reading at arm's length.

Had both eyes done 3 months ago. Opted for 'regular' surgery. Wore bifocal glasses previously, opted for single vision lens. Use glasses for distance only (think driving). Wear nothing for up close vision except for super tiny printing, then ordinary readers or a loup suffice. I had quite bad floaters, many of which disappeared with surgery. Other than the usual follow-up visits, was a really unremarkable surgery. BUT OH WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN SIGHT!

I had one eye done in August. Absolutely painless and done the traditional way, not laser. I have natural mono vision due to having lazy eye as a kid. My right eye was corrected for close up with a toric lens to correct astigmatism. When is time to do the left eye he will correct it for distance as I only have a very low distance prescription (I think -.5). I have no complaints at all and need no glasses to read. Follow up visits were 2, the next day and 1 month later.

Had mine done a number of years ago. My doctor suggested getting one eye for distance and one eye for reading. Big mistake. My brain could never adjust and I feel off kilter. I have tomwear glasses to adjust for them. He offered to change the near lens to distance but I was not anxious to go poking in my eye again.

If I were doing it over again, Id go for ditance in both eyes and wear readers or glasses that are clear on top and reading prescription on the bottom, like bifocals.

I had both of mine done about a month apart before Covid and I don't wear glasses anymore and can read outside without reading glasses which I need for indoor reading. Last week I had my annual eye doctor appointment and he said my eyes are fine but there is a tiny film that sometimes develops and can be zapped away in minutes at the same facility as this office. My husband had this done and it's nothing and improved his vision. Doc says a certain percentage have this film develop. So far I can see fine but he said to call if you want it done or if it gets worse.I have never had a floater in my life but my daughter and husband have them

I had zero problems with my surgeries. I opted for the multifocal lens. Its been about 5 years, I still see well without glasses or contacts.

@lily316 My husband ended up with that film too. Had it lasered off, Like I said - his whole process has been awful, but yes - we are thankful he can at least (mostly) see.

I had both eyes done a week apart in July 2017 (at age 54+) via traditional lens replacement. No mention of a laser method so it apparently wasn't suitable. No complications or difficulty occurred. Vision degradation was occurring for several years, until it became debilitating enough that I wasn't comfortable when driving. The improvement in brightness and colors no longer being muddy was amazing. I didn't upgrade to additional correction, it would have been a large out-of-pocket cost. I wish now that I had done so, I still need spectacles for reading/computer and astigmatism correction.

There is only one doctor in our area who does traditional. He did DHs and the outcome wasn't all that great. I had laser done in January of 2022. Insurance covered the procedure but I had to pay out of pocket for the toric lens. The doctor and I chose excellent distance and moderate close up ability as the best option for me and my lifestyle. I can read most things without glasses but still require readers for smaller print.

I opted for no sedation. Just the eyedrops. He agreed but I did have a line set up by the anesthesiologist in case of something sideways. I was also warned that my outcome might be not perfect due to the fact this eye had previous Lasik surgery for vision done. I found it interesting and was able to stay still for the whole procedure. I could see how more nervous types would require sedation. You can't move at all and their are some pretty intense colors and sensations. I pinches a bit while the lens is being placed.

It turned out fine, zero problems and excellent outcome. Piece of cake. I was able to drive myself the next day for the post op check. I was back in the saddle the next day, wearing wrap around sunglasses to keep the dust out. The worst part was the eyedrops I had to tote around. Monday surgery, post op Tuesday, horse Wednesday.

I was awake during the procedures too and it was weird. They were carrying conversations like they were at a party. This doctor had done 1000s and is now retired and I'm glad I got him before. He had an unfortunate name though ...Killmore. The only big difference was colors were different looking. I bought what I thought was a loden green pear at TJ Maxx for my kitchen. It was actually blue! The laser zap to the film takes just a few minutes and the office is a mile from my house . The only difference I can see is that the deer on my daily hike on the AT aren't as clear far away.

I had mine done (both) about 6 years ago. The drops were a pain. I really see no difference. The white colors was whiter. I still wear glasses. I very rarely drive at night but if I do it's a bit better than before. I was seeing halos & light flashes around headlights.

I had Lasix (both eyes) in 1999 by an excellent surgeon. No problems at all. I had to pay for it, but was more than willing to do so after wearing glasses or contacts since 6th grade.

At an eye exam in 2017 around the time I retired, a cataract was found in one eye, just barely at the point for insurance to cover it. I decided to go ahead and have it removed. Piece of cake. I do wear reading glasses but that was my choice as I do not like the monovision concept ag all. No depth perception which is very important to me. Different opthalmic surgeon but highly recommended. He discussed looking to do a repair that would correct night vision issues, but my situation wasn’t bad enough to correct so he didn’t do that part of the procedure. My other eye has still not developed a cataract.

I know some people who could barely see to drive (especially at night) they waited so long to have cataracts removed. Please do not wait that long. Just be sure to get a referral to someone who has years of experience and an excellent reputation.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing all your experiences with cataract surgery. It has given me a great insight into the pros and cons of different lens options. I feel much better about it all.

I was surprised to here that a couple of you opted for no sedative. I don't think I would be that brave, although I'm not too keen on the whole "twilight" thing either.

There’s nothing to be brave about. You will have drops that will completely deaden any pain. I found the procedure fascinating and the results have been life changing for me. Yes, you must follow the eyedrop protocol for several days after, and you may have dryness and weird haloing for some time after.

I had three drops (PrednisoLONE Acetate, Gatifloxacin, Bromfenac Sodium) starting 5 (or 7?) days prior to the surgery, don't recall if all three started prior or only a particular one or two. All three drops (plus my normal Latanoprost) following, one of each in turn dropping out after a week (so 1st week three extra, 2nd week two extra, 3rd week one extra). My intraocular pressure shot up after the surgeries (which doc said isn't unusual) so an extra glaucoma drop was added for one week. The surgeries were a week apart so I had to keep track of which drop schedule to follow on each side.

I had both eyes done a year ago. I also had lens implants. My doctor prefers laser, so I paid the extra, but I don't think it was six times traditional. For the cataracts, they numbed my eyes with drops I think, but maybe those were just to dilate them more than for a usual eye exam. Did not feel a thing. It was pretty cool actually because I could hear the cataract being crunched up. I was sedated for the implants which were done in the eye center's OR. Not out for long and walked to the car (DH drove).

I am so glad I had it done. No glasses, which I love. I do see halos driving at night though. Since I hardly ever drive at night and when I do there is not much traffic, it hasn't been a big issue. The worst was all the drops before and after. Just annoying and I often missed my eye altogether. Yes, I am embarrassed to admit that. No regrets.

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA) So you had it done as a two step process? Cataract removal and then the lens implanted later? I only ask because I have never heard of that. Do you know why?

I can't imagine separating the cataract removal and the lens implantation. After all, cataracts are simply cloudy lenses. It's not as though a cataract is some kind of growth on our lenses; it's the whole lens, which has become cloudy. When it's removed, we need a new lens--I would think immediately.

I had the surgery 12 years ago, a week apart. I wish I'd been offered the option to have it done without Versed, the memory eraser. I asked, but was told Versed was essential. They promised to use the bare minimum. (Yeah, right.)

I'd worn glasses since first grade, and was nearsighted with astigmatism. Toric lenses were needed to deal with that, and I paid for them out of pocket. My doctor suggested the "mini-mono" option: distance vision for my dominant eye, and closer focus for the other. It's worked well for me. I've never heard that it affects depth perception, and I certainly haven't noticed that.

As for a lot of follow-up, I didn't experience that either. After a couple of months I noticed a problem and was told moisture had built up under the lens. They said it was common (I wish they'd told me it was a possibility before it happened), and the fix was simple: I sat in a chair while a machine used a laser to create a tiny hole in the lens. It took one second, if that.

I would make certain the surgeon is experienced. A friend of mine was referred by her eye doctor to a GP who had "taken classes and got a certificate." Um . . . no.

The other thing I wish I'd known beforehand is that the corrective lenses might not provide the right amount of correction forever. It never occurred eo me to ask about this; I just assumed I'd never need glasses again. But recently I've noticed that road signs aren't always easy to read. The optometrist said it's normal for eyes to change as we age, and I might need driving glasses. Even though I wish I'd known this, I would have gotten the surgery with the same new lenses anyway. Very happy with the outcome overall.

After a couple of months I noticed a problem and was told moisture had built up under the lens. They said it was common (I wish they'd told me it was a possibility before it happened), and the fix was simple

It wasn't moisture. It was PCO (posterior capsule opacification), also known as a 'secondary cataract', which happens when certain cells in your eye proliferate on the capsule surrounding the new lens, causing cloudiness. As you say, it can be fixed quickly with a laser, and is very common.

Well, I guess they gave me the easy explanation, although I'd rather have had the accurate one.

Be certain you *require* cataract surgery before you jump into it. One doctor said I did, but I didn't feel comfortable with him. I did believe him, though. I went to another (recommended) doctor, walked in and said I wanted cataract surgery. He obliged. He did my right eye, with the left one to be operated on the next month.

Big letdown! I saw zero difference in brightness, color, etc. The eye was 20/20, but I had difficulty 'meshing' my vision between the two eyes. "Oh, that's because I magnified your vision in the operated eye! Wait until you get the other eye done."

I didn't get it done. I adjusted, reading with my left eye and driving with the right one.

Now, *10 years* later, I really do need cataract surgery in my other eye -- and the correction in my operated eye is no longer great.

I later heard that the first doctor made a fortune operating on any Medicare patient he could get his hands on. I remember that his waiting room had a lot of 'vacant' old people with carers. I wouldn't be surprised if some doctors offer 'finders fees' to nursing homes.

I had only local anesthesia (in the eye). No Versed for me! I've listed it among meds I am "allergic" to -- white lie. I did that when I learned that MD's refuse Versed when *they* have colonoscopies. (It's been a standby for those for decades. Maybe they've stopped that.)

My DH is 85 and has no cataracts. It isn't a given for Seniors.

Cataracts can occur at ages earlier than "senior." I was 54 and the situation had been developing for several years. Doc didn't urge it, kept saying "we'll do it when you feel ready." Both of my (younger) sisters were done at similar ages. One was 50 or 51, done a couple years before me.

Wildchild, no, I had each eye done,one two weeks after the first. They did each cataract removal and the implant at the same time-first one eye, then the other. My implants were also corrective lenses. Wouldn't make sense any other way, I don't think. It is a two step process each time. Sorry I was not clear. Hope this is better.

I opted for distance and wear cheaters when needed!